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As exciting as buying a home is, the stress that can come with it is huge. The financial investment alone can cause our hairs to turn grey, and it’s hard to be 100% sure you’re getting the right place. Your home is a reflection of yourself, and it’s important you’re fully happy with it. In our experience, the more preparation you have, the less bumpy the ride.

It can be helpful to listen to the advice of a few people who have been there and done it, and CNM Online, the leading radiator and heating company, have shared their experiences with us. You still have to be prepared for anything, but these top tips and considerations should help take some of the pressure off.

Visit the property in both sunshine and rain if you can. It’s easy to fall in love with a place when the sun is shining, and it’s great to get a feel for natural lighting and whether your garden will get any sun during the warmer months, but visiting when it’s raining is also essential. You want to make sure you don’t just love it because the sun is shining, make sure you’d still be happy there when it’s all doom and gloom outside. The rain will also allow you to check for any leaks.

Location, location, location. Make sure you are fully familiar with the area and your distance to all the essentials, Drs, schools, supermarkets and post offices. The countryside does have its appeals, but you’ve got to make sure you’ve really thought about it logistically. Living in the city centre might seem ideal, but you may be miles away from a good supermarket or have to pay extortionate rates to park. It’s all about finding the right balance and what works for you.

Don’t just look at it, use it. We can all try and be a little too polite when viewing a house, treating it like an art gallery and not daring to touch any of its contents. Turn the taps on, check the locks on the windows and doors, ask all of the questions you may have on your mind. Be thorough, they’re trying to sell the house so should be more than happy to help.

Check the boiler and the heating system. Make sure all of the radiators are working, and check how old they are. Some older models may be inefficient and use a lot of energy to heat the home, if you’re planning on spending a long time there it may be worth calculating the cost of replacing these. You’ll also want to check how old the boiler is and when it was last serviced, as any problems with that in the near future and you’ll be a pretty penny out of pocket.

Hey neighbour! Before you put pen to paper it might well be worth having a chat with your neighbours. Ask them questions about the area and get a feel for them as people. We also advise visiting the property in the evening when everyone is home, to see if you can hear much coming from the neighbours or the neighbourhood. A little noise never hurt anyone, but if the property has thin walls you’ll need to consider this.